Adrift in Life

A poem of journey as two young souls wander with their treasures held tight.

The river treasures were held tight by fingers, short and stubby,

Carried to a creek by trousers long since stained and grubby.

They cherished grand adventure, laughter, and that chance would hold sway,

Their little dreams would launch precociously into the sunshine of the day.

The treasures were like the boys in purpose and intent

The journeys would be long with a bounty of heartache spent

Tossed on the waves of life, the boats would seek, toil, and churn

Their futures, in youth-filled eyes, forever ardent to burn.

One boat was exquisite, complete, a purchased design,

It would buffet the torrents upright, surviving all weathers, fine.

The other was but a lump of wood, with no paint or sail,

Yet it was cherished just as dearly without fail.

The sculpted boat raced forward challenging the stream,

It consumed all purpose, gathering riches to fulfill its dream.

Confined to secure travels without risk nor wayward thought

It triumphed over others as through the currents it fought.

The lump idled in wonder and sometimes drifted without aim

Adventure came to it softly, as a partner willing to tame.

Rough hewn, and chasing unknown joy, rather than things secure,

It sought distant channels openly, greeting all life plain and pure.

The fine boat basked in a calm lake and grew to a great fleet

Luxury swirled around it, making the adventure seem complete.

The lump pursued lands afar, unchanged but battered as life passed

The thought of wealth never pursued, no fortune was amassed.

Decades swept by and the fine boat grew bored of his limiting lake

The finery had become a prison, a chain it could not forsake.

It yearned for the open seas, the adventure and fears of the unknown

Safety had pilloried its dreams to a confined whimpering groan.

Yet the fine boat had ease and simplicity, no troubles in time

Only the playful unknowing was taken — a brutal, heartless crime.

The same time past for the lump and often overturned the craft

It struggled through a meager life, stripped to little more than a raft.

Bare of all possessions it was exposed and stood in the harsh cold

It remained undaunted, life had taught the lump to sally forth, be bold.

Yet the lump had a wanting, even though experience left it complete

Only the trying of hardships bore weariness, a dream laced in deceit.

Meeting in open waters they laughed and joined in embrace.

Their journeys were over, the trials were met and now gone without trace.

They reflected on their divergent happiness, as life had swept over with grace

They were still young souls, friends, staring and smiling into each other’s face.

Thanks for reading

Ten Second Takeaway:

The treasures in life are the people whose lives we share.